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Triumph Rocket III Roadster first ride impressions

The UK launch of Triumph’s Rocket III Roadster is under way this what MCN’s chief road tester Trevor Franklin has to say about it...

Although not a completely new machine, the Roadster is a brave departure from the custom cruiser segment with Triumph now lumping this version of its 2294cc Rocket III in the streetfighter category.

With footpegs pushed back by 100mm and down slightly, the rider is pitched upright to enable to take the bull by the horns, so as to speak. It definitely makes hustling the 367kg (wet weight) Roadster along Warwickshire and Leicestershire’s back roads and fast A-roads a lot easier than you’d expect.

The footpeg hero blobs scrape with a smile-inducing sound reminiscent of a glazer cutting glass with a worn diamond tip. If you don’t take this as a warning then those replaceable blobs won’t last long.

Responsive throttle action in all gears makes overtakes, town riding and country blats a delight. With an extra 6bhp and 16ftlb of torque, care of a new exhaust system, every up shift of the 5-speed box gets the Roadster rushing forward from serious thrust.

Rider friendly touches are the addition of digital fuel readout, clock and gear indicator set in the easy-to-read dual clock faces. And ABS is standard fitment on the Roadster.

Triumph is pitching the Roadster onto the market for £10,949, that’s a lot of motorcycle for the money